The skyward emotions from last season’s Class 4A championship remained omnipresent, and reminders of the title were everywhere for the Monarch football team.

But now it’s time to turn the page. Players did so to varying degrees during the offseason, but there’s no choice but to peer forward now.

The 2013 season is here.

“It’s hard to let go, but a week afterwards the whole team was back in the locker room, thirsty for another one,” Coyotes senior running back Ethan Marks said. “But we’re not thinking about that right now. We’re just out here trying to get better and build on what we did.”

Defensive tackle Cody Powers believes the Coyotes are exhibiting a healthy balance of cherishing the title but moving forward. Talks of the crown-clinching win against Denver South have been virtually absent from camp.

“I haven’t seen it among the guys, but the community still knows,” Powers said. “If I’m wearing my Monarch shirt, they always say congratulations.”

While coach Phil Bravo’s Coyotes will have new starters on each of the lines, it’s difficult to peruse the roster and not envision another prime contender. Marks and Logan Soole return at wingback — Marks rushed for 1,975 yards last season and Soole for 589 — and primary fullback Braden Pape also is back.

Add to that the relocation from San Jose, Calif., of quarterback Jay MacIntyre, the son of University of Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre, and the prospects of moving the ball in Monarch-like incremental fashion appear promising.

“Cole (Watson) was a great quarterback last season and helped us out a lot, but Jay’s also really, really good,” Soole said. “He’s really smart with our offense and knows all his stuff already, which is good because it’s early.”

That means hogging the time of possession, churning out first downs and wearing down opposing defenses to a breaking point.

While the offensive backfield remains a clear strength, the defensive backfield isn’t too far behind. Cornerbacks Kyle Billingsley and Jaylen Alexander are among the best pass defenders in the Mountain League, while Soole and Bruce Oliver compose a playmaking tandem at safety.

That being said, the spirit of the defense might be embodied in linebacker Petey Mitchell, who was operating at peak efficiency during Monarch’s four-game playoff run.

“Some of the first practices of the summer, we came in and said we had to let everything go,” Mitchell said. “It’s a new year, a new chance to get better.”

The Coyotes’ schedule is virtually identical to that of last season, with the home and road games flipped. That will give Monarch an almost immediate opportunity to avenge its one loss last season, a 12-7 setback at Wheat Ridge. The Coyotes host the Farmers on Sept. 7.

It marked the only regular-season game in which an opponent was within 16 points of the Coyotes. But again, the Coyotes are only peeking in the rearview mirror for reflection. None of that matters now. It’s go time.

“We’ve been waiting for it for awhile,” Marks said. “Just to be out here again, it’s awesome.”